Hallowed Grounds Espresso Café — Restaurant in Brisbane City

Date of Visit: 22/8/24

In returning to Hallowed Grounds Espresso Café the second time for a meal, I’m delighted to have experienced this abundant masterpiece of the ‘French toast stack’ which was indeed stacked quite intensely with mushrooms, spinach, bacon and a perfectly gooey centred poached egg. Sweet, salty and savoury… three S’s I’d get down on my knees for while enjoying a holistic eating experience.

My coffee was as expected, I had to clarify my order as I couldn’t quite grasp the uniqueness of the dull white chocolate flavour in my mocha, alas, I’m used to the over sickly sweet fudges the bigger coffee chains use and it’s nice to gain some perspective.

If you order a mocha and are used to sweet, add at least half a sugar, these are readily available on every table.

Thank you ladies, for your kind and knowledge service.

Date of Visit: 30/12/23

A fluke win for a coffee and a feed had me Interested as this recommendation came from another business across the road

This place made me feel like I was starring as an extra in an episode of McLeod's Daughters. The staff wearing the warn baseball caps, the laid back yet enthusiastic service and the Sienna browns of earth pigments that stood out like an old friends homestead out in the North Tablelands.

My coffee was inconsistent with the second order, this shows that different baristas will have their own fling at making a quality cup of Joe for the average... Chris. Still a macchiato with a ristretto instead of an espresso in Australia is still considered standard especially to anyone who just needs that caffeine hit, a.k.a. me.

If you want an experience including free sparkling water on tap, you better get your bartending skills ready because pouring my own sparkling water made me feel like I was back behind a bar. Such a great little set up and will give the restless ones something to do for the whole table.

I ordered at 11.42am, my fritata abundant in mushrooms and tomato, spinach and herbs came dressed with balsamic rocket and sourdough that reminded me of Sizzler's cheese toast; it was crunchy and crispy on one side and fluffy on the other, the perfect blend of dough for me.

The sizes of the meals I saw coming from the pass were well worth what the menu advertised for.

I'd like to see the fritata I had be a little more fluffy, there was a hint of runnyness that was likely from the eggs but the subtly of the herbs and flavours combined tied this dish up nicely when paired with the sourdough.

If you're coming here to read or zone out you better bring headphones. This chit chatty place can be incredibly welcoming for people wanting to catch up and can get quite loud.

It seems as though HG is pet friendly, there's some water bowls under the fireplace; yes you read correctly, it might be just for show however it adds to the casual feel of being back in the middle of the Tablelands.

Thank you for the...

Visited Hallowed Ground Espresso after seeing that it was a dog friendly cafe in an article on Facebook.

We arrived and sat outside at a creeky, very low set table (which my tall partner couldn't really even get his legs under) under a single umbrella on the side of a busy road. Luckily we had a towel in the car which we used for our dog to sit on as there was not much reprieve from the paving. After about 20 minutes we went and asked for a bowl of water and a very friendly lady came and gave us a bowl with a great smile. I then asked if she would mind if we moved to the table by the doorway as it was really, really hot. She said that it was fine and to just make sure our dog stayed close to the door side. I laid down her towel and she lay there right by the water bowl the lady had brought out to us.

We processed to have breakfast and there was some good praise for the coffee (although the Matcha Latte needs a bit of work). We were just sitting and having a chat after our meal when a very LOUD staff member very vocally informed us that we were not allowed to bring our dog inside and they could get heavily fined for having her inside. I looked at her with a puzzled look and informed her that we had asked and been told it was fine. She then repeated, even louder and with a ton of attitude that we were not allowed to bring our dog inside.

At this stage she turned around and stormed off.

My first advise is - this is not a customer issue, its a staff issue. I did not walk in and sit down with a dog inside. I asked and was granted permission by a staff member to sit there. Secondly, if you want to really inform us of this - a quiet conversation with just one of us as opposed to the entire table and the entire restaurant would of been more appropriate.

For anyone thinking of going here with your special pooch, make sure you are only 2 people and can sit squashed along the strip of shade along the wall of the cafe or don't bother going. Its on a main road, no grass or shade for the pups. I would not advocate this as "pet- friendly".

If it wasn't for the stinky attitude and rude approach we might have returned but there is no way I will go back, with or without my...

This café had lost the very root of the business since the original owners had left. I ordered an Almond Latte and paid for a medium size in a take away cup and extra hot. It came 25 minutes later but in a small latte glass and warm. So I sent it back and asked to put it in a medium size take away cup as i specifically asked upon ordering. What was worse it taste burnt and bitter and my almond milk didn't taste like one.

Then it took 30 minutes before I got my food too and wasn't even busy. The staff were young, untrained and inexperienced. I had to find and asked where their menus are and both staff that morning just pointed it and were not welcoming. The whole place is so dirty from the floor, to the décor and the bench where I sat down was so sticky. It wasn't wiped and cleaned probably from a day before because it was a very early morning and they just opened. I had to wipe it with my serviette.

Overall, I had a coffee made from China, food made from hell's kitchen and a no frills service. From my money i will not going back there ever again. With my personal experience it didn't confirm what most of the reviews about this place re their coffee, service and staff. My coffee was that bad that I had to get out there quickly and threw it in...